tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3714041227086153852024-03-14T01:24:52.233+05:45socialtours | Nepalsocialtours is an award nominated soft adventure specialists based in Nepal. We offer inspiring holidays in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, India and Ghana. Need inspiration? Contact us by email info@socialtours.com, skype us socialtours or visit our website at socialtours.comRaj Gyawalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00630660710220819910noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-46194031938476125242016-12-02T08:35:00.000+05:452016-12-02T08:35:18.914+05:45KIMFF 2016 | 08 - 12 December<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Its that time of the year again. The 14th Kathmandu Int'l Mountain Film Festival takes place from 8-12 December. More than 80 films on mountain people, culture, and sports from Nepal and around the world. Loads of documentaries, features, shorts, experimental films. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Do not miss it for the world. Check out the <a href="https://kimff.org/">Schedule here</a>.</span><br />
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OddYetihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12548938131926914235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-54380493889343658682016-10-27T14:33:00.001+05:452016-11-20T13:55:29.308+05:45Top Tips : First time in Nepal?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So you have decided to go to Nepal. Where is it on the Globe anyways, this tiny speck of a country which has the<i> highest mountains of the world</i>? (interesting fact: between 70m to the top of the world around 8.5 kms up in a meagre 250 km breadth and hence the steepest country in the world). Let me try to ease you into this amazing country called <b>Nepal.</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 1: Quick Facts</span></b><br />
Its in between China and India, has about 27m people, over 150 ethnicities and languages - from the Sherpas who are the Worlds top climbers (the current world record is 21 times up Everest, soon to be broken) to the Tharu - the only ethnic group in the world resistant to Malaria.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 2: Visa on Arrival</span></b><br />
Nepal has one of the easiest entry rules in the world. Barring a few countries, very very few, all nations are allowed in on a Visa on Arrival. You could fill an online application and come with the receipt, or fill it in at the airport, pay the visa fee, and welcome to Nepal. Easy as that!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 3: English is more common than you think</span></b></div>
You will be mildly surprised how easy its to get around Nepal, especially if you can speak English. The official language is Nepali, which has a 36 alphabet script of its own, but most schools teach English, so we have a huge percentage of the population who can speak English, making travel in Nepal super easy.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 4: Internet penetration is super high</span></b><br />
An opening of the cyber space investments by the Government in the early 90s has paved a way to get pretty decent penetration for the internet. Since the last ten odd years, the 3g networks have started and you can get fairly fast internet connectivity. It is also probably the country with the highest percentage of tourism providers offering free wifi. So you will never lose contact with your loved ones.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 5: Its affordable</span></b><br />
Getting to Nepal can be expensive, specially if you are coming in Long Haul, but once you are in the country, its quite inexpensive. This is quite a boon for budget travellers.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 6: You will like the food</span></b><br />
There are a very few travellers who have gone back after a trip to Nepal saying. “Your food sucks”. The Dal Bhaat (rice and lentil soup with other side dishes), the momos (dumplings and sauce) are super duper hits, and everyone love them.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 7: Its safe</span></b><br />
Crime is very very low in Nepal, and specially for travellers it is very safe. There have been incidents here too of course, but its rare and nothing untoward that could not have happened anywhere else in the world. Practice standard precautions, and you will be fine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by: Rocky Prajapati</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># Smile like a local</span></b><br />
We smile easy, and so it works really well if travellers do the same. We make friends very quickly and its not uncommon to meet a guy at a bar the first time and he will get into a fight for you by the end of the evening, if need be!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># 8: Its not all trekking and mountains</span></b><br />
Its popular for trekking, but there are so many other layers. ParaHawking, Cayoning, bungy jumping and a giant swing, mountain biking, stand up paddling, you name it - a wide variety of safe and fun softadventure experiences are right here.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"># Bring along a great attitude</span></b><br />
Its not what you think it is. So bringing along a right attitude could be critical in determining how much you will enjoy Nepal.<br />
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Happy Journeys!</div>
The Spidermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12389385218394612001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-80459974906440022772016-07-25T15:15:00.000+05:452016-07-25T15:15:11.549+05:45Dancing with the Shamans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hinduism, Animism and Buddhism are the major religions practised in Nepal. Regardless of their religion, however, the majority of people turn to the Dhami/Jhankri (shamans) for help. The people seek a shaman’s help for physical and emotional healings as well as relying on them to protect their animals and crops from natural calamities. The Nepali concept of health is quite different from that found in other parts of the world. A health issue is not just something that has gone wrong with an individual but can also include difficulties with their relationships with their families, communities and universe.<br />
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Nepali shamanism is based on an animistic belief that honours Mother earth and respects the spirit that resides in all living beings. This universal worldview is key in preserving the ecology of the land and in bringing harmony and creating healthy alliances with to all things visible and invisible. The role of the Dhami/Jhankri (Shaman) is to reestablish this harmony. Shamans are the central figures in their communities for they are not only healers but also the storytellers, dancers, singers, artists and musicians. They acquire these talents, their spiritual power and wisdom through their personal helping spirits, ancestral deities, elemental spirits and guides. They accomplish their work by voluntarily modifying their state of consciousness in order to perceive what aspects of the person, family or community require re-balancing.<br />
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Festival in Nepal related to Himalayan Shamans –<br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Full moon in May sending the deities to Kailash in Tibet.<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Full Moon in August (Janai Purnima) pilgrimage to Shiva and Kali shrines such as in Gosaikunda and Kalinchok for 10 days.<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Full moon in November.<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Maghi Purnima or Makar Sangranti<br />
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Our trek ‘ Dancing with the Shamans’ takes us to the most famous of the festivals that is held at a sacred lake dedicated to Lord Shiva in Gosaikunda. This ten day trek will give you an opportunity to observe from close quarters the religious belief and practice of the Shamans.<br />
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Thousands of people congregate on this high alpine lake at about 4300mts to pay due respect to the shamans and renew their faith with centuries old practices and beliefs. Both Gosaikunda Lake and the August full moon are revered by Hindus and local Shamans alike so there is plenty to see at this time of the year. Hindus come to the Lake to bathe away their sins on the date of Janai Purnima, the day they traditionally change the sacred thread (Janai) that is worn around the neck or hand all year. The local Tamang shamans on the other hand come here to dance, bang dhyangro drums and perform sacred rituals around the lake. The large rock in the center of the lake is believed to be the head of lord Shiva. Shamans ("Dhami or Jhankri") are called Bon-Po in Tamang language, a different pre-Buddhist sect, and come from all over Nepal to the lake, to be there on full moon night. Shamans perform spiritual dancing and singing during the ceremony and this day is considered holy by the shamans, whereby apprentices or "junior Jhankris" obtain graduation from their masters or senior shamans.<br />
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The main focus of this trek is the cultural aspect of the shamans and their rituals but on the other side this trip also offers you a great trek into some of the most beautiful areas of the Langtang region. High alpine meadows, glacial lakes and snow clad high peaks are a common sight during your 10 days trek. On the way you will come across various ethnic groups: Brahmins and Chettris from the low hills to Tamangs and Bhotiyas of the Tibeto-Burmese stock in the highlands. This will give you a real insight into the cultural and religious diversity of Nepal.<br />
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If you like to get into real depth of the festival, please <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/Get-Immersed/shamanism-trek-2016.html" target="_blank">book here</a> NOW<br />
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The Spidermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12389385218394612001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-17746055357407847172016-06-21T12:55:00.006+05:452016-06-21T12:57:47.004+05:45<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-44861838442593213362016-06-21T12:55:00.005+05:452016-06-21T12:57:39.581+05:45PRESS RELEASE : Yoga in the Mountains Festival 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">21st June 2016 </b></div>
<b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Kathmandu, Nepal and Arendal, Norway</b></div>
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Marking the auspicious occasion of the summer solstice and the International Day of Yoga, we would like to announce the launch of promotion and preparation for the first ever <b>Yoga in the Mountains Festival</b> from 07 - 09 April 2017 in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.</div>
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Talking about the event, Linda Veraasdal, head of Ethical Travel Portal in Norway and chief architect of the Festival said, “the Festival promises to be a weekend to celebrate yoga, mindfulness and the mountains with high profile instructors. It will be followed by immersive yoga treks, workshops and retreats in the week after”.</div>
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The chief organisers for the Festival are </div>
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<b>Ethical Travel Portal, Norway</b> - Leader in responsible travel in Norway who has been developing innovative sustainable travel experiences in Nepal, Gambia, Romania, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia etc - <a href="http://www.ethicaltravelportal.com/">www.ethicaltravelportal.com</a></div>
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<b>socialtours, Kathmandu, Nepal </b>- Nepal’s first and only sustainability certified travel company with the Travelife Certified status who works in responsible and innovative travel experiences in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India - <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/">www.socialtours.com</a></div>
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<b>Pranamaya Yoga, Kathmandu, Nepal</b> - Nepal’s top Yoga Specialists - studios and experiences provider, and pioneers who have brought together the largest community of instructors, practitioners and enthusiasts - <a href="http://www.pranamaya-yoga.com/">www.pranamaya-yoga.com</a><br />
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<b>Register </b>to be kept in the loop in the run up to the Festival at <a href="http://www.yogainthemtn.com/">www.YogaInTheMtn.com</a></div>
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Follow us on social media using the hashtag #yogainthemtn</div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/yogainthemtn">www.facebook.com/yogainthemtn</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.twitter.com/yogainthemtn">www.twitter.com/yogainthemtn</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.instagram.com/yogainthemtn">www.instagram.com/yogainthemtn</a></div>
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or write to Linda, Raj or Anna at <a href="mailto:register@YogaInTheMtn.com">register@YogaInTheMtn.com</a></div>
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<b>Organising Team</b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0Kathmandu 44600, Nepal27.7172453 85.323960527.6047838 85.162599 27.829706799999997 85.485322tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-88663308293829893862016-05-16T14:57:00.006+05:452016-05-16T14:58:22.804+05:455x5000 - Trek for social change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Charlotte is trekking for a challenge in the Everest region which she is undertaking to crowd source funds to finance an actionable environment initiative in the outskirts of Kathmandu.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KuidK35J5RZozbkIM8usdo1E27EPr8LNNxaJ5zExvm4d4l4AinN5blrjEM7N79CsIk_7Qc8ZBDx91iy2uy3EM0vqu1bdEHRvDsBTNC218tdlAksYPnfVDPFiwOlCjN5mhpOcgYwyTcFz/s1600/P8192501+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KuidK35J5RZozbkIM8usdo1E27EPr8LNNxaJ5zExvm4d4l4AinN5blrjEM7N79CsIk_7Qc8ZBDx91iy2uy3EM0vqu1bdEHRvDsBTNC218tdlAksYPnfVDPFiwOlCjN5mhpOcgYwyTcFz/s400/P8192501+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Her challenge to do the 5×5000 to raise funds to benefit a social organization in Nepal called SABAH. SABAH has been actively involved over the past several years in strengthening the livelihood of more than 2000 financially deprived and marginalized women of rural Nepal.<br />
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Khokana a small village on the southern fringe of the Kathmandu valley will be the epicenter of her work. This is so because SABAH has a strong physical presence there and we would be able to impact the local community efficiently.<br />
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The earthquake of April 25, 2016 had a devastating effect on this small village. Lives were lost, rich cultural heritage sites were flattened and the general environment suffered. SABAH will use the funds generated to help people get back on their feet and contribute to a healthier environment by helping to improve the sanitation of the village. Toilets and drainage destroyed during the earthquake will be rebuilt.<br />
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The earthquake also had a huge impact on the tourists visiting the country and Khokana.<br />
Effort will be made to lure the tourists back to this beautiful village and help generate income for the local community.<br />
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<b>How can we do that?</b><br />
The idea is very simple: raise awareness among the 240 SABAH home-based workers in this village on the environmental issue. Explain to them how they can separate organic and plastic waste to make compost for their culture with the organic waste and to recycle the plastic waste.<br />
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<b>Why is the money for?</b><br />
To organize some training programs, to buy some big bins and to communicate about this action on the media and on Internet. In fact, the aim of this tiny action is to prove that is possible to do something visible for that big environmental issue and also, to encourage other villages in Nepal to do the same kind of actions.<br />
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<b>For more details:</b><br />
Follow her blog : <a href="http://www.lepicurieuse.fr/" target="_blank">L’épicurieuse – Le voyage en solo qui révèle notre potentiel d’action</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lepicurieuseblog">https://www.facebook.com/lepicurieuseblog</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlotteHoef">https://twitter.com/CharlotteHoef</a><br />
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lepicurieuseblog/">https://www.instagram.com/lepicurieuseblog/</a><br />
YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8a-4TuXOA6IXZ3QNDgEMQ">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8a-4TuXOA6IXZ3QNDgEMQ</a></div>
The Spidermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12389385218394612001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-49307549443311766012016-02-29T16:17:00.000+05:452016-02-29T16:31:05.735+05:45Top 10: Most Instagramed Pictures of Kathmandu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Instagram is a place of inspiration and countless day dreams. Here, we count down the top 10 Instagrammed pictures from Kathmandu with stunning photography.<br />
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<b>1. Swoyambhunath</b><br />
A golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill, Swayambhunath Stupa is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu valley.
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BCNHnTyNquk/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Laura Becker (@lauraabecker_wahl)</a> on <time datetime="2016-02-25T09:55:42+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 25, 2016 at 1:55am PST</time></div>
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<b>2. Bhaktapur Durbar Square </b><br />
Bhaktapur Durbar Square, located in the center of Bhaktapur city, is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood.<br />
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<b>3. Boudhanath </b><br />
<b></b>It is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Buddhist culture in Nepal.<br />
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<b>4. Thamel </b><br />
<b></b>Thamel has been the center of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over four decades, starting from the hippie days when many artists came to Nepal and spent weeks in Thamel. Even though Thamel has been referred to as a "ghetto" by some, many low-budget travelers consider it a hotspot for tourism.<br />
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><b>5. Patan Durbar Square</b><br />
Patan means eternity itself and Patan Durbar Square is a spectacular sight. It is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings.
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><b>6. Ason</b><br />
A walk through Ason brings you to the heart of “normal” Nepali city life. It is the Kathmandu of many generations of inhabitants. There more temples for the gods than there are houses for people in Ason.<br />
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><b>7. Pashupatinath </b><br />
The Mecca of Hinduism attracts millions of devotees worldwide during the last week of February for the Shivaratri festival.
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<b>8. Kopan Monastery</b><br />
Home to 360 monks, lamas. teachers and workers, visitors from all over the world come here to attend courses and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere of the place for study and practice<br />
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<b><br /></b><b>9. Basantapur</b><br />
Kathmandu Durbar Square in the heart of old Kathmandu city in Basantapur never fails to impress first time visitors with its intricate wood carvings and rich history.
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><b>10. Nagi Gompa</b><br />
Nagi Gompa nunnery sits on a mountainside high above the Kathmandu Valley and is home to more than 100 nuns. Here, nuns from all over the Himalayan region have come to study, practice and meditate in quiet and peaceful surroundings.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-35367186509274850382015-10-19T11:06:00.002+05:452015-10-19T11:12:39.370+05:45MEET us at WTM 2015 | 02 - 05 Nov 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elders @ Patan Durbar Square #stillSmiling pic: Rocky Prajapati</td></tr>
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As we go into World Travel Market 2015, we are just beyond the six month mark of the EarthQuake that changed the course of Nepal’s history altogether.</div>
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The flurry of media activity in Nepal post quake unfortunately only focussed on the destruction, not realising that only a certain portion of the country was affected, and very little was actually destroyed. The effect on the backbone of the economy, tourism was devastating.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/508k3so5gf9x8xh/CAT2015-11.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bd5Y3ZfAgw4/ViR8qLnMUPI/AAAAAAAACgg/lv36VNkk0BA/s200/catalogue.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/508k3so5gf9x8xh/CAT2015-11.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">Pic: Rocky Prajapati</a></td></tr>
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At socialtours, we have worked through rescue, relief, recovery and since just under a month since the earthquake, have been working hard on reviving Tourism, through various campaigns and programs. Our I AM IN NEPAL NOW campaign viralled online and caught even the attention of international media.</div>
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For the past months, we have developed a range of limited edition products, showcasing the strength and resilience of Nepal, in earthquake recovery. We feel that this will greatly enhance your product arsenal for Nepal, giving your travellers a first hand look at how strong and skilled we are, and how Nepal is tuned to react to something like this. This is not Disaster Tourism, we are not showcasing disaster, but we are showcasing the pride and energy that exists in Nepal now. </div>
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Please take a look at our special edition catalog "<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/508k3so5gf9x8xh/CAT2015-11.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">IN NEPAL NOW</a>" that can be <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/508k3so5gf9x8xh/CAT2015-11.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">downloaded via this link</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhbSCOFLVj4/ViR7Sk22RHI/AAAAAAAACgY/bGvYqHA-Yg4/s1600/10842244_10152424381846945_566942203146010626_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhbSCOFLVj4/ViR7Sk22RHI/AAAAAAAACgY/bGvYqHA-Yg4/s200/10842244_10152424381846945_566942203146010626_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Raj Gyawali (<a href="http://twitter.com/kinggyawali" target="_blank">@KingGyawali </a>on twitter), who has been instrumental in development of these packages and who plays a key role in the Tourism Recovery Campaign in Nepal, will be best placed to inform you more about how Nepal is responding and what these packages entail.</div>
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Raj will be available at WTM all days and will be delighted to meet up, and discuss possibilities, or even just to have a quick catch up on the situation in Nepal.</div>
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Contact him direct at raj@socialtours.com to set an appointment or pick a date and time at the online appointment slots on <b><a href="https://www.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUpFbk9XTDduR29ffGRlZmF1bHR8NjA3ZmYxN2NlMjU0MmQ5MDA2MzMzMzY3ODFiZTExMzk" target="_blank">Google Calendar here</a></b></div>
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<b>TEAM SOCIALTOURS</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-43891181152019886212015-09-16T14:22:00.001+05:452015-09-16T14:42:31.315+05:45 In Nepal NOW | Recovery Tours & Short Breaks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2VvsiwJ0sc/Vfkp0yi6mRI/AAAAAAAACfo/Rqhjtl4BlCE/s1600/catalogue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2VvsiwJ0sc/Vfkp0yi6mRI/AAAAAAAACfo/Rqhjtl4BlCE/s320/catalogue.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy Rocky Prajapati</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Post quake, we have been working hard at developing new limited edition experiences to highlight Nepal’s strength and resilience in recovery, and also focus more on income rather than aid. Check out our hand-picked selection of experiences in Kathmandu and one from Pokhara here. Book your spot for one off trips, or combine them to make it into a short break of an inspirational journey of discovery.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">All these trips can be booked pretty much last minute but some are popular and all have limited capacity. Most can be conducted daily. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Download the PDF brochure here -</span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/508k3so5gf9x8xh/CAT2015-11.pdf?dl=0" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" target="_blank">https://www.dropbox.com/s/508k3so5gf9x8xh/CAT2015-11.pdf…</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"></span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nepalnow?source=feed_text&story_id=1036642193034192" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #627aad;">#</span><span class="_58cm">nepalNow</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stillsmiling?source=feed_text" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="background-color: white; color: #627aad; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;">stillSmiling</span></a><br />
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<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1036666989698379.1073741854.161949867170100&type=3" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1036666989698379.1073741854.161949867170100&type=3"><p>Post Quake, we have been working hard at developing new limited edition experiences to highlight Nepal’s strength and...</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/socialtours.np">Socialtours</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1036666989698379.1073741854.161949867170100&type=3">Wednesday, 16 September 2015</a></blockquote></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-9851844094517617672015-09-03T23:00:00.003+05:452015-09-04T08:06:00.378+05:45Rebuilding Heritage in #nepalNOW | Shantipur Temple, Soyambhunath<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://touristnepal.com/wp-content/uploads/Swayambhunath_in_Kathmandu_Valley_Nepal-500x357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://touristnepal.com/wp-content/uploads/Swayambhunath_in_Kathmandu_Valley_Nepal-500x357.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Shantipur temple in Soyambhunath has damages on the outside wall and the inside wall and is now closed for worship, though devotees still worship the door outside - there is no stopping that.</div>
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I attended a small meeting at Soyambhunath in the morning, and was pleasantly surprised that it was teeming with devotees (supposedly, three days after the August Full Moon, devotees from Bhaktapur have to come to Soyambhunath). I never knew that, and it always surprises me how many times I feel like a tourist in my own country, every time I come in contact with a new tradition from the over 100 ethnic groups we have.</div>
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The first thing that struck me was how young the group in the meeting was - and how diverse. Some were the priests family, some were the custodians of that space, the youth club, the sponsors etc. The discussion was revolving around traditions - with the earthquake and the recovery, whether to modify the traditions or find ways to preserve. Fascinating debates that happens in Nepal now.</div>
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So here is the story. The main sanctum sanctorum of Shantipur can only be opened by the priests, and no other person is ever allowed to enter. So no one really knows what is in there, even today, except this young guy sitting around the drinking tea (who I secretly hoped would take me aside and tell me, but it was not to be) who comes from the priest clan, and whose grandfather, now 92, is still head priest of this temple. It is said that this slightly bent man with a pacemaker suddenly walks straight when inside this deepest part of the temple. The devotees can only come to the second level, just outside, and of course around the temple too.</div>
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The decision. We cannot modify tradition. Tradition and belief systems are a combination of known and unknown, and if you make the unknown known, we destroy ancient beliefs and this is the beginning of the end. If there is way to keep the mystery there, we will preserve tradition. Everyone is agreed on that!</div>
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Hence an interesting solution for recovery comes up and is agreed upon. Wood panel walls will be constructed to keep the accessible area separate from the inaccessible. A walled area will be outside the temple, and there will be walls to separate the sanctum sanctorum from the outside too… the priest clan will go inside and work there on their own, doing the restoration and recovery of what is their responsibility, the outside can be done by other people. However, all of them have to be raised from the ground up together to keep the building stable and earthquake resistant.</div>
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The most fascinating thing in this whole discussion, I think, is that there is no questions of architects, painters, masons, technique. We know that already - this has been preserved through the ages. The discussion on funds is casual - the Indians, the Thai, the government have all promised something, but no one goes to them… when they are ready to fund, they have to come to these committees who hold the keys to each structure. The agreement - let them figure it out. When they are ready, they will come to us!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shantipur Temple, Soyambhunath, Kathmandu</td></tr>
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Later, someone laughs about how lucky we are that the earthquake happened after 86 years of the last one. If it was after a 100 years, everyone who had experience in restoration of these structures would be already dead! That way, Nepal is lucky - this cycle of 80 odd years of earthquakes preserves ancient traditional skills - as the ARTISANS rise again, every time disaster strikes.</div>
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We leave after drinking some really, I mean really sweet tea, and feeling a deep sense of pride - in our own ability to restore our heritage.</div>
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Check out the <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/go-local/rise-of-artisans.html" target="_blank">RISE of the ARTISAN</a> - a trip focussed on exactly this - the artisan who rebuilds structures that have fallen.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-689270919171456802015-08-24T14:47:00.000+05:452015-08-24T14:49:14.456+05:45Recovering from the quake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYvnhdq3sVg/VdrWn30P1CI/AAAAAAAACfA/bkQKiOOhegs/s1600/IMG_1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AYvnhdq3sVg/VdrWn30P1CI/AAAAAAAACfA/bkQKiOOhegs/s320/IMG_1305.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by: Rocky Prajapati</td></tr>
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Every century, with a cycle of around 80 years, a devastating earthquake shakes up the two continental plates below Nepal, jolting all life above it. With each repetition, buildings collapse, lives are lost, and normalcy turns upside down for a while.<br />
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Yet every time it happens, the country comes together, gets stronger, and works harder to build back. And build back it does. Better, stronger and more resilient. This has been proven time and again.<br />
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The two major earthquakes of 25th April and 12th May caused widespread damage in some districts in Nepal, no doubts about that. That was the earthquake doing its thing.<br />
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The reaction of the people, considered to be one of the best crisis managers in the world, was extraordinary. Before the government or international aid could kick in, the youth, business-people, monks, nuns, schools, colleges all started to work in relief, and before anything had even arrived in Nepal in terms of aid, had conducted an astounding amount of relief runs, mobilising funds and resources and moving tons upon tons of relief into areas that needed it.<br />
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In the far flung villages, the youth had dug up bodies, cremated them, and had started on emergency shelters within a few days already, conditioned by centuries of living in isolated small valleys and knowing how to be self-sufficient.<br />
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This strength and resilience is something worth experiencing, the nature of this incredible mix of over 100 ethnic groups living in this stretch of land that is Nepal, nestled between giants of China and India, never colonised and never conquered.<br />
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In tourism, the reaction was similar. First priority was getting everyone home safe, so rescue missions were organised to get stranded travellers out of the way. After that, companies started looking after their own - staff, guides, porters etc who needed help. After that the industry rallied together to start a recovery process, running as we write and which has developed into a very unique industry led initiative thats taking the lead in turning the tourism of this country for the better. An understanding of this process and the participation in it, can change ones understanding of how an industry should react in disasters of this magnitude.<br />
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At <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/">socialtours</a>, we are working hard on several aspects of the recovery process<br />
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<li>Leading an industry initiative to recover tourism through engaging in designing of mitigating strategies and actions to back it up. A big positive results of this has become the new recovery website endorsed by the government <a href="http://www.nepalnow.org/">www.nepalNOW.org</a> . We urge all partners to also endorse this, as this is beneficial for the one voice that is required to drive customers to buy trips again. </li>
<li>Developing post quake recovery products that are experiences that encompass what we have described above. Most of our trips have already become relevant in the recovery process, as travellers can now meet survivors, relief workers and real champions in order to understand how a country responds to something like this. This is a strong promise and in Nepal NOW easy to deliver. We ourselves are survivors and socialtours alone has organised and is implementing over 50,000 USD worth of relief works and we continue to do so since day one. </li>
<li>Initiating confidence building campaigns like the I AM IN NEPAL NOW and I AM GOING TO NEPAL campaigns that are viralling on social media. </li>
<li>Finding ways to make the travellers in this two year window feel even more welcome, sometimes things as little as finding out which room is allocated and leaving a nice note for them. </li>
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Together in Tourism!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-20046874666658554182015-07-15T23:52:00.001+05:452015-07-26T09:55:18.073+05:45Why coming to Nepal NOW would be the best thing you ever did!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanadventures.com/">pic: Urban Adventures</a> | the Boudhanath Rebuild</td></tr>
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The human race is amazing - its capacity to fight hard times, to be resilient, strong, and yet still find energy to bring out the act of pure humanity is absolutely inspirational. After the earthquake, Nepal has changed tremendously. Yes, we have houses down, grieving families and an economy that is down, but the people and their spirit are stronger than ever. We have regained our pride in ourselves, in our strength, in our resilience, in the skill we have to build back, and build it back better.<br />
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The youth came out in force and even before the first aid plane had landed in Nepal, they had mobilised hundreds of tons of relief into the needed areas, and are still continuing to do so. In the mountains, the youth dug roads, set up supply lines, made shelters and protected communities.<br />
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The police have never been on a bigger high. Mobilised within minutes of the quake, they dug out bodies, protected supplies, made huge missions on dangerous landslide prone territory, and were later even performing on the streets providing music therapy, seen here in a video that went viral on facebook.<br />
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/raj.gyawali/videos/10152778771841945/">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/raj.gyawali/videos/10152778771841945/">SuperHeroes Nepal Police | Gangnam style cover - for Therapy</a><br />
RECOVERY UPDATE | Real SuperheroesThe Nepal Police... They react fast to the earthquake, rescue people, protect supplies, and then provide music therapy. Was a bit emotional with pride and respect.#WeAreNepali - never conquered, never colonised - an earthquake will not beat us!<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/raj.gyawali">Raj Gyawali</a> on Tuesday, May 26, 2015</blockquote>
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The tourism industry, which took a huge huge hit, immediately started mobilising and for the first time ever, started even meeting up together and forming joint strategies and actions and aligning with all players to bring back tourism to its feet again. Overnight, the designed online viral campaigns like the "I AM IN NEPAL NOW" and the currently viraling "I AM GOING TO NEPAL" to regain customer confidence. This is huge - it rarely happens, but it did and it continues and this will make the industry stronger and better. No doubts about that!<br />
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Overnight, skilled persons got together to save objects of heritage when monuments fell, turned back bulldozers to break apart the monument brick by brick to preserve each piece for the rebuild, and at World Heritage Site locations like Boudhanath, started the rebuild, without any aid money, less than a forth-night since the quake hit, on pure faith! That, in todays world, is pure gold!<br />
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The stories continue, on and on! We have changed, and for the better!<br />
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This is probably no different than anywhere on earth. At times of urgent need, humans step up the game, and synergise the necessary change that is required to uplift themselves - both in spirit, economically, or what have you!<br />
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So here is the reason why you should come visit. One can only witness this strength - this capacity to change the game, this constant shift brought about by synergies, these improvements in quality - in places where an event of this proportion has happened. And for now, this is where we are, in Nepal.<br />
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You do not get many chances to experience this spirit. Its rare, and it will not last for very long. If you do not come now, you will miss it - this opportunity to again be proud of being human.<br />
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Of course, the mountains and the biodiversity that make Nepal one of the places to visit in your lifetime is intact. The draw is still there!<br />
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And of course we are Nepali - we are #stillSmiling and still one of the friendliest people in the planet. Only we have got stronger!<br />
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Come witness the recovery of Nepal. It will inspire you and change you forever!<br />
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Raj Gyawalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00630660710220819910noreply@blogger.com0Kathmandu 44600, Nepal27.7 85.33333300000003927.5875385 85.171971500000041 27.812461499999998 85.494694500000037tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-33905957337189848392015-07-01T15:52:00.000+05:452015-07-01T15:52:49.251+05:45Ropain: The rice planting festival 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic courtesy - https://www.facebook.com/jaysan.photography</td></tr>
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Carrying on with the tradition of celebrating ROPAIN as in yesteryears, <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/">socialtours</a><a href="http://www.socialtours.com/"> </a>organized a group of expatriates and tourist to travel to the southern ridge of the Kathmandu Valley to indulge in one of Nepal’s most colorful and exuberant festivals. After the earthquake of April 25th this was one of the major events to take place.<br />
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On 27th June, 2015, the journey towards the paddy fields began at 8 am and we reached the Bajrabarahi temple after an hour of driving through earthquake damaged village houses and well manicured terraced fields. A brief stop at the temple and the team was on its way to the fields. After a quick change of clothes the planting began in earnest. Fifteen minutes of rice planting then gave way to over three hours of fun and frolic in the mud. Mud wrestling, tug of war and mud racing then over took rice planting.<br />
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In between local rice beer, rice wine, Newar style sautéed buffalo meat and spicy potato was served. This served as an energizer for the mayhem in the mud to continue for another two hours. After another hour in the fields mingling with the local farming community and giving continuity to on the spot invented games, it was time to relish a typical village Newar lunch. After shower and change of clothes under the open sky an eight course Newar lunch was laid out. Food was as varied as from beaten rice, chicken, bamboo shoot to your regular potato curry. 3 pm and we were pulling our tired bodies into the bus for the ride back home.<br />
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This year the crowd was smaller than in previous years due to the earthquake, but let me assure the fun wasn’t. It was an occasion that everyone relished and spoke highly of. It was also a measure of how far we had come after the earthquake in terms of getting our lives back to normal. <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/">socialtours </a>has come back stronger and better after April 25th and we promise you a bigger and more eventful ROPAIN 2016.<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHskfihHz3">All photos</a> sourced from https://www.facebook.com/jaysan.photography<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-806854044632730022015-06-25T16:36:00.000+05:452016-12-08T16:28:32.660+05:4510 Things You Probably did not know about Nepal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">By now you know that Nepal was hit by quake in April 2015, is in ASIA and between India & China. But did you know these cool things about Nepal? Here are just 10 of them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">1. We perfected the </span><b style="text-align: center;">mo:mo |</b><span style="text-align: center;"> #stillTasty</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-miGA6HS4eII/VYvZRM6yVvI/AAAAAAAACZs/31mP_cRORZ8/s1600/Momo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-miGA6HS4eII/VYvZRM6yVvI/AAAAAAAACZs/31mP_cRORZ8/s400/Momo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">This snack probably came from South China, via Tibet, and when it hit Nepal, it hit our crazy tastebuds, and we started the experimentation with fillings, spices & sauces. The result. A perfect mo:mo (do not ask why we write it that way!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">2. The Tharu in the south are</span><b style="text-align: center;"> immune to Malaria |</b><span style="text-align: center;"> #stillMysterious</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ydNgMOK8NM/VYvWGKzmxCI/AAAAAAAACY4/MR1x3ADN59Q/s1600/tiger_camp_resort_Tharu_Women_Dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ydNgMOK8NM/VYvWGKzmxCI/AAAAAAAACY4/MR1x3ADN59Q/s400/tiger_camp_resort_Tharu_Women_Dress.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">A long time ago, the Tharu ran away from their native Thar Desert because of the invasion of the Moghuls. They established their bases in the then Malaria ridden jungles of south Nepal. No one knows why they are resistant.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">3. Nepali Artisans can recreate anything </span><b style="text-align: center;">traditional |</b><span style="text-align: center;"> #stillArtistic</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3bTfh-oj7Y4/VYvWBqHqj_I/AAAAAAAACYw/36mQKxgpRbg/s1600/artist_painting_a_new_thanka_pokhara_nepal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3bTfh-oj7Y4/VYvWBqHqj_I/AAAAAAAACYw/36mQKxgpRbg/s400/artist_painting_a_new_thanka_pokhara_nepal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">Art is a tradition that falls under a lineage in Nepal. Hence we have artists who can recreate almost any ancient heritage. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">4. </span><b style="text-align: center;">Polyandry </b><span style="text-align: center;">still exists in remote communities in the West of Nepal | #stillKinky</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azq0QWnWuyI/VYvZ_76tcVI/AAAAAAAACZ0/_Sg274ln-C0/s1600/e1dc74db86ad7fda91e8d0e354484e87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azq0QWnWuyI/VYvZ_76tcVI/AAAAAAAACZ0/_Sg274ln-C0/s400/e1dc74db86ad7fda91e8d0e354484e87.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">Yup. It does. Women, soak it in. In remote mountain areas of the West of Nepal, some families still practice polyandry. Kinky as hell, but it seems to work for them!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">5. We can </span><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">grow everything</b><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> in this country, from pineapples and banana all the way to nothing in a 250 kms breadth | #stillFertile</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCJXt-Kbhvk/VYvXsroPWqI/AAAAAAAACZM/pqVkQC8LTuQ/s1600/Nepal_looks_for_ensuring_agricultural_exports_to_India.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCJXt-Kbhvk/VYvXsroPWqI/AAAAAAAACZM/pqVkQC8LTuQ/s400/Nepal_looks_for_ensuring_agricultural_exports_to_India.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">This is so amazing. Nepal has from sub-tropic to alpine regions, so can achieve amazingly diverse crops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">6. We </span><b style="text-align: center;">speak over 100 different languages</b><span style="text-align: center;"> and dialects in this country | #stillDiverse</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmBSX1NWwlM/VYvaWyIxFoI/AAAAAAAACZ8/J5IKJWcFrfs/s1600/culture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmBSX1NWwlM/VYvaWyIxFoI/AAAAAAAACZ8/J5IKJWcFrfs/s400/culture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">It does get a bit crazy. We can be surprised by our own people on a daily basis. Also it means we can have an endless potential for domestic tourism.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">7. We have one of the</span><b style="text-align: center;"> highest biodiversity densities</b><span style="text-align: center;"> in the world | #stillRich</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2CRFBIXifWw/VYvXs59JvFI/AAAAAAAACZQ/fjhHrQSe11A/s1600/img_1558_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2CRFBIXifWw/VYvXs59JvFI/AAAAAAAACZQ/fjhHrQSe11A/s400/img_1558_resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">This is quite a surprise but it must have to do with our steepness, from 70m to the top of the world in just 250 meters breadth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. A </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">fungus </b><span style="font-size: large;">that grows out of a dead caterpillars stomach is one of the most expensive commodities coming from the alpine regions of Nepal - </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Yarsa Gumba (or cordyceps) is used in virility drinks in China and sells for millions | #stillVirile</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBXjWZWJ-T8/VYvalqSCZEI/AAAAAAAACaI/U12Xt6A8Rjc/s1600/guerilla-trek-alonzo-lyons-Yarsagumba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JBXjWZWJ-T8/VYvalqSCZEI/AAAAAAAACaI/U12Xt6A8Rjc/s400/guerilla-trek-alonzo-lyons-Yarsagumba.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Yup. No wonder then that our population is over 27 million. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">9. Nepal was </span><b style="text-align: center;">never conquered or colonised | </b><span style="text-align: center;">#stillInvincible</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kxxbVToLQQ/VYvcHapTeYI/AAAAAAAACac/vMmmDY1-rOQ/s1600/nepal-4-na-soldiers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kxxbVToLQQ/VYvcHapTeYI/AAAAAAAACac/vMmmDY1-rOQ/s400/nepal-4-na-soldiers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">This is something that every Nepali is ultimately proud of. We fought the British tooth and nail (actually with stones and knives) but they just gave up, after fighting Malaria in the plains and the skillful agile Nepali in the mid-hills.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">10. Nepal was bloody well formed because of this </span><b style="text-align: center;">quake</b><span style="text-align: center;">. We own it | #stillFunny</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ZzRdPg-5I/VYw5MPSpMBI/AAAAAAAACaw/qVERV-KanK4/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-06-15%2Bat%2B13.14.06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w8ZzRdPg-5I/VYw5MPSpMBI/AAAAAAAACaw/qVERV-KanK4/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-06-15%2Bat%2B13.14.06.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">This is what made us no doubts. If the plates did not exist, we would not be here.</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-23652261826801695252015-06-15T15:39:00.000+05:452015-06-15T15:39:27.602+05:45Psychological preparation for disaster <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today, at socialtours, we had a short session with one of our senior city guide Sarita Shrestha regarding the human psychology during and after the natural disaster.<br />
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The session started with the sharing of experiences related to the earthquake that hit Nepal on 25th April 2015 with the magnitude of 7.8RS. Everyone had their own stories about where they were, how they felt, what was their immediate response, what was the lasting impact and so on.<br />
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We realized that there was something common in the stories we shared. We all were in the state of high alert during the quake and were trying hard to find a safe place for oneself. This taught us the fact that the greatest threat of human being is the threat of life; it makes us ready to do anything... and that means anything.<br />
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Then, we evaluated the impact of disaster in our mental health. We found that most of us still have not recovered from the fear. This session, however, helped us to realize that it's normal for anyone to go through such trauma, everyone will get back to their normal life; the pace of recovery depends the personal strength.<br />
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On the whole, the session was quite fruitful. <br />
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Socialtours would like to thank Sarita for her time and effort.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-75189129760169229152015-06-15T15:06:00.002+05:452015-06-15T15:06:20.306+05:45Press Release | Nepal is building-back-better for autumn 2015 tourist arrivals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacs3mp8kzVjbgQFdoZe7XNsFoY3bsbO__NNvayfPSOtSvMzWgzplcEmaYZjD74N51UvYiwDj5lQ9RyLLwPsKdJh8Rtd8RcgG-fm0VlDEk5y213qvcxO1M9Q1w4qwDrfmvKpH5piV2snno/s1600/nepal_earthquake_map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacs3mp8kzVjbgQFdoZe7XNsFoY3bsbO__NNvayfPSOtSvMzWgzplcEmaYZjD74N51UvYiwDj5lQ9RyLLwPsKdJh8Rtd8RcgG-fm0VlDEk5y213qvcxO1M9Q1w4qwDrfmvKpH5piV2snno/s400/nepal_earthquake_map.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="http://www.humanitarianresponse.info/">www.humanitarianresponse.info</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kathmandu, 15</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 2015 - Major reconstruction work and in-depth assessments are underway in Nepal to build-back-better and get the Himalayan nation ready for the upcoming tourist season.</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The two earthquakes that shook parts of Nepal on 25 April and 12 May 2015 have brought damage to 14 of the 75 districts of the country, and even though the devastation is extensive in some regions, many areas remain relatively unscathed and are fit for tourists to visit in autumn 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Our nation is working hard to make Nepal a safer place,” says the founder director of socialtours - Raj, who has been in the industry for more than a decade. “The tourist district Thamel has been relatively unaffected. Damaged hotels are getting a full structural assessment and are being restored to an even better condition than before.” Under the assessment project, engineers have marked safe buildings with a green sticker and started demolishing those deemed unsafe in and around the Kathmandu Valley.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Damaged sites, such as the historic Kathmandu Durbar Square, have partly been reconstructed and opened for tourists on 15 June. The main roads and air transport links are operational and life is getting back to normal in many areas. “Nepal is a wonderful country and one of the best qualities of the Nepali people is their hospitality. They are very resilient and are working hard to get their country back on the international tourism agenda,” says Katja Staartjes, a Dutch mountaineer and a Goodwill Ambassadors to aid tourism, emphasising the need for this source of income to return to the country.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many trekking areas have seen little damage and, if the monsoon rains do not trigger landslides in these areas, trekking will be as safe as it was before the quake. “Apart from Langtang, Rolwaling and Manaslu, we do not see much of a problem with other trails, such as the Everest Base Camp Trek,” says Swiss geologist Erwin Scheibert, who is assessing the routes in the affected areas for the Local Road Improvement Programme (LRIP) in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other places further in the west, such as the popular wildlife parks Chitwan and Bardia, the lakeside town of Pokhara and the much-visited Annapurna trekking region have also escaped widespread damage, and are ready for visitors to showcase their abundance of natural beauty and wildlife. Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini, did not suffer damage and is thankfully all set to welcome visitors back to its sacred soil.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tourism is a big contributor to the Gross Domestic Product of the Himalayan nation, directly supporting almost 500,000 jobs in 2014. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) this figure was due to rise to almost 700,000 in the coming ten years. “With tourists not coming to Nepal even more people will be forced to leave the country, which will be devastating for the future of our country,” Gyawali continues.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Nepal Institute of Development Studies (NIDS) says that around 2.2 million Nepalis, which constitutes about 10 per cent of the population, have opted to leave the country to work abroad in order to provide the necessary means to feed their families.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For more information, please contact
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- NepalTourismRecovery@groups.facebook.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #3b5998; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-67365908984460413332015-05-28T11:29:00.001+05:452015-05-28T11:29:23.319+05:45The Great Quake 2015 | our response to it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raj @ Yellow House sourcing supplies <br />for Sindupalchowk | Day 5</td></tr>
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The great quake hit us badly, with first news coming that Naresh (our accounts colleague) losing his mother and sister when the house collapsed, and that we lost Paul in a landslide near Ghopte in the Langtang Region.<br />
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While parts of the team scrambled to get evacuations organised and set up emergency communications, a part of socialtours was already working in emergency rescue, which quite quickly turned into relief distribution, and has now stabilised into reconstruction & recovery.<br />
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We quickly mobilised our charity <a href="http://www.karmafoundation.net/">Karma Foundation</a>, set it up ready to receive supplies - over 3000 tarps, over 100 filters, and over 1000 household packages of rice, lentils, salt... and over 60 solar lamps and chargers - to just name a few, and set it ready for distribution. We distributed it all, and are now working on quality distributions.<br />
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We also quickly helped some of the staff recovery - Binita from Karma Coffee had a village in Nuwakot badly hit - and we immediately sent supplies there. Later we organised and sent supplies to Ashmita's village too in Sindupalchowk. Along with Namaste Nepal, we also went quickly into the field in Sindupalchowk where we have a long standing partnership, and started relief and recovery efforts.<br />
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Friends and well-wishers from all around the world also quickly started raising funds, of which we have close to 15,000 USD now, and are making plans for disbursement, and recovery strategies that we will fund. The reports will come out on the <a href="http://www.karmafoundation.net/">Karma Foundation website</a><br />
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We had also by this time mobilised a small team to start calling everyone we knew and were related to in the industry, to find out how they were and assess the damage, and asking them how we could help. We were relieved to find that only a few bad cases were there, though almost everyone had lost homes, if they were in the affected area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EarthQuake & Aftershocks | focussed on a limited area in Nepal</td></tr>
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We then initiated a tourism recovery plan - got together like minded professionals in the industry and started recovery strategies - We announced we are back in business, have started assessing the assets that we have, keeping our website uptodate with latest information, and talking to all our agents to keep them informed and work together.<br />
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Read about whats happening on this front on this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/NepalTourismRecovery/">facebook group here</a><br />
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This is where we are! We recognise that this is a unique situation and requires creative unique responses, and we really appreciate all support we have received - monetary, moral and technical.<br />
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So far, we are analysing what hits we will have to take this year as a business. Immediate cancellations have been huge to be frank, but we also have very encouraging stories, with group reaffirming their conviction to come to Nepal, as thats the best recovery strategy.<br />
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We are committed to the safety of our clients and our assets, and have made a strong commitement to be honest in our communications, as that is the best strategy we have, and which is in line with our principles.<br />
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We are fully working and are keeping uptodate information on whats happening in the country. Talk to us, we are interested to hear your concerns regarding travel to Nepal, and will ensure that you get the most accurate and reliable information to help make travel decisions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">socialtours team | open for business since day 4</td></tr>
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Raj Gyawalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00630660710220819910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-20263156236667728882015-02-11T15:43:00.001+05:452015-02-18T23:48:03.006+05:4510 reasons why you should meet #socialtours at #ITB 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>ITB</b> a big place and there are so many meetings to choose from - too many operators and too many promises. Here are some reasons why you should choose to talk to socialtours at ITB. Hall 4.1/214, specially when it comes to discussion on <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/nepal-abode-of-the-gods/all-departures.html">NEPAL</a>, <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/Bhutan/bhutan.html">BHUTAN</a>, <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/Unity-in-diversity-the-Indian-Experiences/india-tours.html">INDIA </a>and <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/Tibet/Road-Trips-to-the-Top-of-the-World/">TIBET</a>!<br />
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<b>New Products: </b>socialtours has the largest range of new products in Nepal - most of it self developed - ranging from half day bike rides and<a href="http://www.socialtours.com/Go-Local/cook-like-local.html"> cooking courses</a> to day tours, over-nighters and multi-day experiences.<br />
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<b>Offbeat specialist:</b> Most of socialtours trekking products are offbeat and to places not many agents will know - try us, we can prove it to you! Try <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/langtang-region/ruby-valley-trek-10-days.html">Ruby Valley</a>, <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/Far-West-Nepal/dolpo-trek.html">Far West Nepal,</a> <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/Off-the-beaten-trail/chepang-hill-trail-trek.html">Chepang Hill Trail</a> etc.<br />
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<b>Unique experience:</b> socialtours is not interested in competing with other trekking agents or tour operators in Nepal. We have our own product range and keep developing <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/langtang-region/ruby-valley-trek-10-days.html">new </a>ones, where we do not need to compete.<br />
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<b>High Value:</b> socialtours is a good choice for a partner for <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/nepal/tour-packages-html">extensions </a>to your already existing trips - our extensions can highlight your trip. In fact, that is what these extensions are meant to do.<br />
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<b>Market knowledge: </b>socialtours understands your needs and the needs of the changing market profile. We come out to the market often enough to understand that. We visit both <a href="http://www.itb-berlin.de/en/">ITB </a>and <a href="http://www.wtmlondon.com/">WTM</a>, mostly to understand the market<br />
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<b>Visitors satisfaction:</b> socialtours consistently gets the<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293890-d2166611-Reviews-Socialtours_Private_Day_Tours-Kathmandu_Kathmandu_Valley_Bagmati_Zone_Central_Reg.html"> best reviews</a> and customer satisfaction levels are excellent. We deliver.<br />
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<b>Qualified team</b>: socialtours constantly trains manpower, creating a highly trained and motivated <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/About-us/The-Team/">team</a>, which means its easier to work with us.<br />
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<b>Effective communication</b>: socialtours has a policy to be lightning fast in <a href="mailto:info@socialtours.com">communication</a>, making work efficient and effective. <br />
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<b>Professional & personal:</b> We specialise in a professional but personal service, giving each traveler the attention to detail that their dream trip deserves throughout their holiday.<br />
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<b>Industry leader</b>: socialtours is a leader in responsible tourism practice in Nepal. Additionally, socialtours is a <a href="http://www.travelife.org/Hotels/landing_page.asp">TravelLife Partner</a>, signatories of <a href="http://www.thecode.org/who-have-signed/">THE CODE</a>, six time nominees for the Responsible Tourism Awards in the UK and has mentions in <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/kathmandu/activities/food-drink/social-tours">Lonely Planet,</a> <span id="goog_516375689"></span><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/16/travel/6-ways-to-do-nepal/">CNN <span id="goog_516375690"></span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Travel</a>, <a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/11/nepal/adventure-guide-text">National Geographic Adventure</a> a UNWTO publication on sustainable businesses.<br />
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<b>Who you will meet?</b></div>
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Raj Gyawali founded socialtours and the concept and principles behind it in 2012, and has since constantly been working about two years ahead of what the organisation does - constantly strategising and leading the ethos into the future. He also works nationally and internationally as a consultant on sustainable tourism practice and destination planning and management, and has been part of a team of consultants designing the 10 year strategic tourism plan for Nepal. He is also a trainer of guides and tour operators in the region. He is an avid cyclist and also leads treks and trips. He has extensive knowledge of travel in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India</div>
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Contact: <a href="mailto:raj@socialtours.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">raj@socialtours.com</a> | 0043 66473 533483 | <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/">www.socialtours.com</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-45887732495392849692014-10-09T12:51:00.000+05:452014-10-09T12:51:02.742+05:4510 Essentials: Being Prepared to Trek in Nepal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is an age old list called the ‘Ten Essentials’, it was developed in the 1930’s by a climbing and outdoor adventure group in the Seattle, Washington who called themselves The Mountaineers. At first glance this list may seem to be overkill if you are planning on going out for a day trip, but being knowledgable of this list could end up saving you much hassle and time.<br />
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<li class="li1">Navigation (map and compass)</li>
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<li>A map or compass won’t be necessary if you have a local guide as they will know exactly where they are going. However if you are heading out alone these are a must have. Unless you are familiar with the trail you are taking than knowing which direction you are heading could be the difference between a great day and miles of frustration.</li>
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<li class="li1">Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)</li>
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<li>Sun protection is a must, especially at high altitude where the UV rays of the sun are even more powerful. Try to find sunglasses and a sunscreen which block out both UV and UVB rays.</li>
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<li class="li1">Insulation (extra clothing)</li>
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<li>Insulation isn’t always a must if you are in warm weather but do some homework and check the weather. Does the temperature drop dramatically at night? It is often better to have more warm clothes than you need. I strongly suggest a rain/windproof jacket as well. </li>
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<li class="li1">Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)</li>
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<li>If you are going out for a half day trip starting in the morning than having a headlamp with you may be extra weight, but if you have a lightweight lamp than it can’t hurt to trow it in your pack just in case. If you know you'll be out overnight than make sure to put one of these in your pack.</li>
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<li class="li1">First-aid supplies</li>
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<li> A good guide will carry first aide supplies but a lightweight simple kit is inexpensive enough that its worth bringing with you. As with all of these items, it may not seem necessary but being prepared for the unexpected will come in handy more than one would expect, even on short trips.</li>
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<li class="li1">Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)</li>
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<li>A lighter is not heavy and doesn’t take up much room so why not bring it? Chances are better than not that you will not need to build a fire for survival but maybe you’ll get a craving for some smores, who knows?</li>
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<li class="li1">Repair kit and tools</li>
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<li>This applies more specifically to cycling than trekking but a small repair kit is a must and is again something your guide should have. It won’t hurt to double check with your guide before you leave on the trip to make sure he has some of these essentials. If you are camping with a tent than having something to patch holes is a good idea. </li>
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<li class="li1">Nutrition (extra food)</li>
<ul>
<li>Having a little food is a most important piece of this list, no matter how short of a time that you plan to be on the trail. It can be as simple as some nuts, a banana, peanut butter or a trail bar. Nuts are high in calories and fat which is great for your body during extending activity and the fruit has some vitamins that you will surely be craving. If you have a sweet tooth than I would recommend some dark chocolate. </li>
</ul>
<ol class="ol2">
</ol>
<li class="li1">Hydration (extra water)</li>
<ul>
<li>This is the only thing on this list more important than having extra food. If you body is not properly hydrated it will not work at its optimum capacity. For more information please click here to see a full article about: Staying Hydrated in a Sustainable Way. (INCLUDE LINK)</li>
</ul>
<ol class="ol2">
</ol>
<li class="li1">Emergency shelter</li>
<ul>
<li>This was a late addition to the list by The Mountaineers, but who am I to say its not necessary? I will however say it is one of the more precautionary items on the list. You will need to examine your situation and what you plan on doing to decide if this will be an item you pack. </li>
</ul>
<ol class="ol2">
</ol>
</ol>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Some items that did not make it on the list but are worth thinking about depending on your geographic location are:</div>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li1">Insect Repellent</li>
<li class="li1">Whistle</li>
<li class="li1">Cellphone, two way radio, or even a sighting mirror. </li>
<li class="li1">Knife or Multi tool </li>
<li class="li1">Have an understanding of the terrain and general area you will be in. Knowledge is power. </li>
</ol>
<div class="p2">
Photo borrowed from: www.theveganbackpacker.com </div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
About the author:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Vincent Morano is a travel photographer and writer. He grew up in Boston, Massachusetts but has spent the last 6+ months traveling through in Asia. Vincent is known for traveling with only a 50mm lens so his work heavily consists of culture and portrait shots which can be seen on his blog: www.vinnymo.co </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-9723228196156978852014-09-08T15:01:00.000+05:452014-09-08T15:41:25.331+05:45Story of ‘Tamang-Bomjan-La Ma’ Dancing with Shamans! Story of Gosainkund Trekking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: right;">
-By Asha(Yun Mi SEO) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
On the full moon day in August every year, I heard, a special kind of feast is held
around Gosainkund, the lake of the god Shiva, who is beloved most out of the three
major gods in Hinduism.<br />
Gosainkund, the spring of Trishuli river, the main river in Nepal, is believed that Shiva
having swallowed venom(that is why Shiva’s face is blue.) made the water springing
from the ground to cool down his throat. Hindu worships the water and visit there to
bathe themselves and to participate in the ritual Pooja during the feast Janai
purnima (purnima means the full moon).<br />
But Gosainkund is located in Rasuwa state, where the population of the Tamang tribe
and Tibetan-Yolo, not Hindu, is the greatest than any other tribe. They preserve Tibetan
culture of Mongolian descent and their own legend of the lake related with their own
god Avalokitesvara, not Shiva.<br />
For Tamang, the shaman Bompo, who can be found in every Tamang’s village, leads the
feast, shepherding the villagers to Gosainkund and involving them into the feast. This
makes the feast so unique. You can experience Hinduism and Tamang’s Shamanism at
once on the same day.<br />
In rainy season trekkers are scarce, not only because of the bad condition for walking
and also because they cannot appreciate Himal, which means mountains covered by
snow. But, unable to give up the alluring feast, in spite of worries and dissuasions from
my friends and family, I ventured to reserve nine-day trekking tour at Social Tours, a
responsible tourism agency in Nepal.<br />
<br />
For Rasuwa state, Tamang tribe, and the feast Janai Purnima, I ask your patience. I will
tell you about them in the next articles and here I’d like to start with my guide La Ma.
If it had not been him, if it had not been his wise, professional guide and his warm
heart towards people, I could not have finished the arduous journey.<br />
It was one of the days left before leaving when I met La Ma. He educated me about
the trekking plan and checked the route on the map. In the morning of the day before
the date of departure, he said he could help me with packing, sending me a list of
articles I need to take. But I had to work through that evening, so I could only said
that I would pack my bags as best as I could. Next day, I found him waiting near my
house.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsSY0eb4HIA/VA19Eah-9MI/AAAAAAAAA-A/Scm517-EM_I/s1600/lama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsSY0eb4HIA/VA19Eah-9MI/AAAAAAAAA-A/Scm517-EM_I/s1600/lama.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asha with the guide LaMa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
La Ma, a female porter Da Fui, and me composed a team and stepped off towards
Sundarisal, the starting point of our journey. As La Ma suggested to call our team
name my Nepali name Asha, meaning ‘hope,’ we arrived at the entrance of Sundarisal,
which belonged to Shivapuri National Park, one of the ten National Parks in Nepal.
Sundarisal is also source of water supply for the capital city Kathmandu.<br />
We drank Nepali tea Chia and had a bite of Selroti, a crispy rice donut. La Ma is a
Tamang tribesman. Then I came to know that there are a hundred of tribes at most
which consist of various smaller units of tribes under the larger units. To be exact, La
Ma can be called a tribesman of Bomjan, which is a smaller unit of Tamang tribe. I
could see La Ma speaking Tamang language a lot during the trip, for most of the
people we encountered on the way were Tamang tribesmen.<br />
He explained that he as a Tamang tribesman, believed in Buddhism, but also in
Hinduism, about which he had no choice but to because he was born in Nepal, the
country of Hinduism. He accepts what he can from Buddhism, and Hinduism in proper
harmony and regards them as his part of life.<br />
Unfolding the map, he double-checked the course we should finish that day. We
shouted spell to cheer us up and began our journey. La Ma handed each trekking pole
to Da Futi and me respectively and for himself insisted to walk without them.<br />
The destination of the first day was Chisopani, 2,141 meters above sea level. At the
entrance was an information board of Nepal Environment and Tourism Initiative
Foundation(NETIF), where the regulations tourists should follow and the description of a
variety of flora were written, stood. As soon as I found the name NETIF on the board, I
was so glad to see it again. I remembered the day I had been invited as an instructor
to Sustainable tourism guide training held in Nepal last year.
<br />
Marijuana farm planted here and there by villagers nearby came to my eyes all the
while climbing up. It is said that Shiva was fond of smoking it. During rainy days, after
the sun rises, it shortly sets down in the middle of the afternoon at about three to
four. Then it becomes usually foggy accompanying rain. Coming after the sun’s cycle,
we had to keep having breakfast at 7 a.m., departing before 8 a.m., and arriving at the
destination around 3 to 4 p.m. everyday. Arriving at Chisopani, we warmed our cold
bodies with hot Chia and La Ma briefed the others on the tomorrow course, spreading
the map and compass he brought.<br />
<br />
“Asha, I don’t want Da Futi live as a porter for her whole lifetime. Buddism taught me
to share with others what I learned. I believe I should make Da Futi keep learning,” he
said. Then he had Da Futi set next to him and began to teach how to read a map,
how to use compass, how to measure the distance from a map and so on. His lecture
beginning from the first day continued day and night until the trip was over. At the
end of our journey, Da futi seemed to stir herself to study harder reviewing what she
had written down on her notebook.<br />
Da Futi was a twenty-year-old girl, a Sherpa tribeswoman from Solukhumbu of Himal
area. Following her oldest brother who had been guiding Himal climbing for a long
time, she had also come down from Himal a year ago. She had been working in
3sisters, the famous social enterprise for training female porter and guide, in Pokhara.
Then she had recently moved to Kathmandu and were living with her little brother who
was a clerk at trekking equipment store in the tourist district Thamel.<br />
The second day’s destination was Kutumsang, 2,470 meters above sea level. It was not
before long we came across a Tamang family heading for direction of Gosainkund. They
were walking and resting in turn to get to the village stood before Kutumsang where
their friends live. This time they asked where we are heading for today. As we
answered, the father of the family turned to me and said, worrying, “how can that
daughter finish it?” La Ma was cosy up to the family, interviewing, filming, and taking
photos.<br />
As closer to 2,500 meters above sea level, there appears no shower booth and no
electricity. The village around there used solar power, but due to rainy season no sun,
so no electricity. My cell phone turned off finally. The higher we go up, the worse we
got. I couldn't take a shower during four days. Being messed up with sweat and
soaked, I continued to walk until the day I arrived at the lake.<br />
I was worn out. As I was about to gulp down cold beer, La Ma whipped out that it
was the last beer he can allow to me because tomorrow we should climb up to 3,690
meters above the sea level. He ordered a soup, saying it was much better for us. How
can I cross his words?<br />
The third day had come. We left for Tharepati and entered Langtang National Park. As
the altitude sharply went up, biological diversity changed. La Ma pointed at some tree
for me to observe how it looks. The natives kept directing at the point where we
should reach and informing us that it would take several more hours to get there. La
Ma covered my eyes and ears, saying playfully not to listen to them. The only word I
learned exactly during the journey was ‘Ukalo,’ meaning an ascent. I cannot even count
how many times I heard ‘Ukalo.’<br />
I could not remember how I had come so far. Anyway, it was the day we had to get
Phedi, 3,730 meters above the sea level. Then tomorrow we would finally arrive at
Gosainkund. A Nepali man seemed to get high on his joy and cried out loud. That
unending noise was hard to listen to. At that moment, La Ma asked him to refrain
himself from making noise and to have a sense of respect towards nature and other
tourists. I was walking wearing a raincoat because it had unceasingly been raining since
yesterday. As I reached almost about 4,000 meters above sea level, I was so out of
breath and panting that my feet scarcely off from the ground. Heavy rain was falling. I
swayed this and that way with my legs loosed.<br />
At the lodge not far from Gosainkund were there crowded with people already. The
Nepali, each of whom had walked at different speed from different place, came across
all together. The Tamang family we had met on the second day was also there. They
did not know each other, but they united together in that all had met each other on
the same way and in that all were heading for the same destination.<br />
At a high altitude, with rain, it was so cold that everybody got together around fire.
They took out traditional Nepali Khukuri Rum, watered it, knocked it over, then unified
into one, and celebrated their feast, dancing and singing. I was also dying to down the
hot rum, but I had to restrain myself, for La Ma insisted stiffly lest I would suffer from
mountain sickness. They interjoined as one like they had known each other, after small
talks coming and going such as where they were from, which tribe they belonged to.
La Ma was dancing in the middle of them as united with them and heightened the
gayety.<br />
That night the three of us slipped into a room and had a chat with each other when
everybody else was feasting outside. La Ma started his story. I came to know his dream,
and it made me hard to wait to see the future he would make.<br />
He is a young man with his own dream, having worked in trekking field for four years.
It is common that Nepali both study and work at the same time since they are young.
The classes at undergraduate and graduate schools begin at 6 a.m.. When the classes
are over, they go to work. When they are home, they feed their little siblings. They
study, do household chores, and work at the same time. So it is not strange for them
to start their own business in their early twenties.<br />
La Ma is talented in different activities. He goes rock climbing and thanks to which he
appeared in a TV commercial of Nepali Ramen. He is a singer and a drummer in his
band The Boyz Next Door. He acquired general certificate of trekking guide and now is
trying to obtain professional certificate of mountaineering guide needed for guiding to
climb high altitude himal mountain .<br />
He has just finished the basic course. He will expand his experience following Himal
climbing as a porter. It will take four years to acquire the certificate. Then he will try to
get International climbing guide to broaden his stage into the globe. He is also
interested in mountain bike. He is learning rock climbing to achieve its certificate in
February next year. He, though young, knew his calling. He was a marvellous young
man who was ambitious enough and understood that he needed to take steady steps
to realize his dream.<br />
“Asha, I think it is my job to do my best for my parents. When I was young, I
answered phone calls from clients at a website production company for six
months(there are a lot of companies locating call centers in English spoken countries
like the Philippines, India, Nepal to cut down labor costs.). I was in Nepal, but I had to
lie to clients I was in America. I went to work at midnight. I was so exhausted.
Mountain Everest(Sagarmatha in Nepali)is stood in Nepal. I think Nepal is a country full
of potential. I love teaching others. Later I’d like to build an school teaching outdoor
activities. I will teach how to pack a bag, how to do first aid, how to cook in the wild,
how to set up a tent. But I think I should control my desires and interests. Because I
can’t do everything I want. I always try to keep positive energy and I think it’s most
important.”<br />
He was a man whose heart was filled with pride towards his country Nepal and was
dreaming his specific future. During the journey, he was willing to lend his hand to
kitchen, took care of people suffering mountain sickness, giving them medicine,
preparing hot water for them, and even making room in his tent for them. For nine
days, he treated everybody smiling with a sense of hospitality all the time and I never
saw him frowning. It was the night before the day arriving at Gosainkund and I heard a
priceless story. Tomorrow, we will go to the lake.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0Kathmandu 44600, Nepal27.7 85.33333300000003927.5875385 85.171971500000041 27.812461499999998 85.494694500000037tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-89959672704284174462014-04-17T15:52:00.001+05:452014-04-18T13:48:38.917+05:45Thoughts on the last 2 months interning with socialtours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>I came to intern with <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/">socialtours </a>in February 2014. The following blogpost is about the first third of my time here in Nepal. </i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrj3qNK9a7PG6OEViqSp6HOubpOchaRKQCaqrEWxj_b6MUm1P_Ci2CGLYBfpIxBzK7tDvehzVpzwPxw0f1ktVA__cLzFPp1LLgHzpIB1-WMmhC_Q_Jbwjp4-3TJ3kvD5vEjAEI1j2Ubbc/s1600/IMG_8030-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrj3qNK9a7PG6OEViqSp6HOubpOchaRKQCaqrEWxj_b6MUm1P_Ci2CGLYBfpIxBzK7tDvehzVpzwPxw0f1ktVA__cLzFPp1LLgHzpIB1-WMmhC_Q_Jbwjp4-3TJ3kvD5vEjAEI1j2Ubbc/s1600/IMG_8030-3.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Patan Durbar Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At breakfast I told my host-mom that a third of my internship is over. She thought about it for a moment, drinking her tea, and then told me that she will miss me. That I am like a second daughter to her. It was one of those moments that make me appreciate the time I have here. <br />
<br />
To get to work, I walk along the narrow streets in the direction of Durbar Square, navigating around motorcycles and other people. I still remember my first days in that crazy traffic of Kathmandu, surprised that it actually works out, and thinking I’d never remember the way back home. Well, by now day-to-day life set in. I see the same shops, streets and temples every day, but it is still amazing how many new things I encounter every time. I never get tired of watching the street life in this beautiful city. <br />
<br />
Ok, Kathmandu is not exactly a beautiful city in the traditional (western & perfectly paved) way. But the temples and heritage sites at every second corner, buzzing markets and old Newar houses have their own flair. I like it here. <br />
<br />
But the best about Nepal are certainly its people. I don’t think I ever met any unfriendly person here. Something I can sadly not say about my home country. Everyone here is somehow helpful and if they don’t have a solution themselves, they will find somebody who will have it. Many people here seem to have a warm and loving heart and I like the custom to call others brothers and sisters. In Nepal I not only have my host-family, but also <a href="http://www.socialtours.com/">socialtours</a> is my family. It is amazing how so different people form a family, but one thing is probably common to all of them: <i>the kindness and a good sense of humour</i>. Here I am not looking forward to the weekend, but to go to work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Kathmandu 44600, Nepal27.7 85.33333330000004927.5875385 85.171971800000051 27.812461499999998 85.494694800000048tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-53239706407186513482014-02-11T09:02:00.002+05:452014-02-11T15:38:13.138+05:45Meet @socialtours at #ITBBerlin | Hall 4.1b Stall 208, 05 - 09 Mar 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="p1">
For the fifth year running, socialtours will be exhibiting at ITB Berlin from 05 - 09 Mar 2014. This year, we are co-exhibiting with Destination Far West Nepal, an initiative that is trying to develop the Far West of Nepal as a globally recognised Responsible Tourism Destination.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fPlDmgJBEQ/UPjZ4xCsrBI/AAAAAAAAAr4/90lPCOgsfwg/s1600/424543_366657443366007_856328048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fPlDmgJBEQ/UPjZ4xCsrBI/AAAAAAAAAr4/90lPCOgsfwg/s1600/424543_366657443366007_856328048_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<b>Our FOCUS this YEAR</b></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
The tourism landscape is changing. While Nepal’s image as an rough adventure destination is still very strong, there is a bigger market looking into Nepal as a soft adventure and an experiential destination with a myriad of experiences - culture, handicraft, lifestyles, learning and of course adventure</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
This is where socialtours comes in - working hard to support the industry by developing products that do just that - expand the pie, and provide the industry with new products that are creative, fun, experiential and trip highlighting. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Examples of the success of this approach is all around. Our COOK like a LOCAL is a hit in Kathmandu, where clients come for a three hour cookery course. To name a few more that are working well - Throw your own Souvenir (pottery and an organic farm day), LUNCH with NUNS (hike to a nunnery for lunch), the WORKING NEPALI (a hike looking at changing lifestyles in the suburbs), CROP to CUP (a look at organic coffee in Nepal)… the list goes on.</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
We offer this to the industry, an ever changing company that is committed to keep the products dynamic and new, letting you differentiate from the market and offer trips that highlight the all time favourites in Nepal.</div>
<div class="p2">
<script src="http://mp.tourcms.com/w/pw.php?type=tourSearchComp&mp=0&chan=1268&qs=k%3Dtours%26k2%3Dkathmandu%26&per_page=5&page=1&pagination=yes&theme=unstyled" type="text/javascript"></script>
</div>
<div class="p1">
This year, we are also making a presentation on another passion of ours - CYCLING. The growth of the market for cycling and Nepal as a destination for Mountain Biking is unprecedented. Industry reports growth of up to 180% in a single year.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
At the Adventure and Responsible Tourism Hall at 4.1b, in the small stage, we will be making a presentation on NEPAL by.Cycle - a concept we are promoting where we custom tailor cycling trips to Nepal.</div>
<div class="p2">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bt5cy7Y5zcE" width="550"></iframe>
</div>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Date: 07 March 2014</div>
<div class="p1">
Time: 1330 - 1400 hours</div>
<div class="p1">
Venue: Hall 4.1b, small stage</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
We cannot wait to meet the industry and discuss and learn whats new in the markets, so that we can adapt the products and support you to find your niche and bring more business to Nepal.<br />
<br />
ALSO, NOT TO MISS @ ITB<br />
<br />
Date: 07th March 2014<br />
Time: 1300 - 1330 hours<br />
Venue: Hall 4.1b, small stage<br />
Topic: Destination Far West Nepal - Nepal's newest tourism attraction.<br />
<br />
This year, the ITB Responsible Tourism Networking is bigger and better. If you have time on the 7th March @ 1730 hours, do come by at Hall 4.1b to meet some of the most inspiring people in the planet. We will network, launch a networking website, hear inspiring stories and conduct a speed pitch. Whether you are going to attend or are just interested in keeping track of whats happening, register using the link below<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rtnet-international-responsible-tourism-networking-itb-berlin-registration-10480460339?ref=ebtnebregn" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - #RTNet International Responsible Tourism Networking | ITB Berlin" src="https://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=10480460339" /></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
See you at ITB</div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
raj @ socialtours</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18143440673511499462noreply@blogger.com0Berlin, Germany52.520006599999988 13.40495399999997552.210736099999991 12.759506999999974 52.829277099999985 14.050400999999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-78453440327011248982013-09-24T16:06:00.000+05:452013-09-24T16:06:04.339+05:45The Vo'Ye Newar Feast!
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Celebration and partying in Nepal
are two very usual habits such as brushing teeth or washing the dishes.
Everything is pretext to a feast : the full moon, the many Hindu Gods, the
death anniversary of your grandpa… Each week, if not each day, something is
happening. It was time for me to write about one of the biggest events I’ve
been invited in so far : the Vo’Ye Newari Feast.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Vo’Ye in itself means
« feast » in Newari, the Kathmandu valley local language. The celebration
is « justified » (do they need justification ?) by the Indra
Jatra festival, the festival of the God of Rain. To this occasion, the Kumari,
the living Goddess, is getting out of her palace. What ? Who ? Ok ok,
let’s start from the beginning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Kumari is initially a little
girl, selected when she’s around two years old through a long and demanding
process, so she can become THE Nepalese living Goddess. For this job, she has
to fit in 32 qualities, which are roughly tested during the « recruiting
process ». Among others, all the applicant little girls are put aside
alone in a dark room filled with skulls for quite a while. The ones not crying
can get to the next level. Being a living Goddess is not easy !<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once « elected », the
little girl and her family move in a palace located on Durbar Square,
Kathmandu. She will get out of this palace only nine times per year, among
others during the Indra Jatra festival. Therefore this is so important !<o:p></o:p></div>
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The rest of the time, the little
Kumari is getting various teachings and can play with two or three children
that have been carefully selected. But the playing in itself is very
restricted. In fact, if the Kumari gets hurt and shows some of her blood, she
would instantly lose her divine quality. Therefore she lives in a very
protected cozy world and must not take ANY risk.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Logically, the Kumari remains a
Goddess until she gets her menstruations. At that moment, she and her family
are sent back home, with a nice retirement pension. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some stories tell that marrying an
ex-Kumari brings bad luck… This can be understandable knowing that taking care
of an ex-goddess can be challenging ! Some Nepalese, shyly, explain that
marrying a girl you have been worshipping before is too weird : does she
go to the bathroom like everybody ? How can you kiss her normally ? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now that you know who the Kumari
is, we can come back to the story of the Indra Jatra festival and to the Vo’Ye
feast. During the afternoon, my colleagues and I dressed up as true Newari
people and went for a tour through the streets of Thamel, to reach Durbar
Square. There, we waited under the rain for quite a while. « <i>The Kumari will come in 30
minutes ! </i>» someone said. Two hours after we were still waiting. This
is a typical example of Nepali time line, where minute = hour and hour = day.
Anyway, goddesses do what they want, right ?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the meanwhile, the square got
packed. People in colorful saris, waiting, laughing, chanting. A lot of music,
and some « protector spirits » dancing around or running away… That
was almost a show. Then we felt a huge excitation : the three chariots of
the Kumari were living the palace ! The first one was carrying a little
girl representing Ganesh, the second one a girl representing Bairav, and
finally the Kumari HERSELF… The three girls are surrounded by men throwing
sacred flowers to the crowd. The woman behind me grabbed me to keep her balance
and to get a flower. I got one, so I offered it to her. She was so happy that
she wanted to fix my hair. Nepalese are real fun, you know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Apparently not the three girls on
the chariots tough. They actually didn’t smile at all : <i>« if the Kumari smiles, it’s a terrible
sign for us. It means it could be earthquake, or huge storm</i> ». I must
confess it was a bit special to see these girls, all between 5 and 7 years old,
being so richly dressed up and being so incredibly serious, almost severe. But
it was a very strong moment, we could really feel the uniqueness of the
instant, as we were carried by the enthusiasm of the crowd !<o:p></o:p></div>
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After that, we drove to an old
palace to start enjoying some Newari food… 18 flavors in total. Good, we were all
hungry enough ! We sat on the floor, got served in leaf plates, and ate
with the right hand, Nepali style ! Alcohol (rice beer and 60% strong life
water) was abundantly served in clay cups (apparently it absorbs the water part
so only the alcohol is left…). Then the serving process started :
many women dressed up Newari style began to go around with dishes : boiled
egg, smoked fish, bars (deep fried lentil patties), hakku chhoila (smoked
buffalo meat) and yoghurt… The list was long! No need to precise that we had a
lot of fun <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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After the dinner, some dances were
performed, while we sat and started digesting (long process, that will last the
all night………). Very typical Newari evening, the kind that brings you into a
culture, the kind that no other tourist can get… Unique !<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-51234051481813788402013-09-24T15:42:00.004+05:452013-09-25T15:37:36.838+05:45Sakuntala, elected BEST COOK of the country by the socialtours team!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEIuxx48o47M8AvtojhL8lXsZC-4c8TUgxE4CopLGcZwMbjIyUSrruoIKLiKkKHZT9kVkOtIkGGeDqS5ZbRHKs4e-lcLCNHfDm7xvbzCPAk1FnOM-_3_i7v8eSom_3dmeVoYnXtvjkzfX/s1600/sakuntala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEIuxx48o47M8AvtojhL8lXsZC-4c8TUgxE4CopLGcZwMbjIyUSrruoIKLiKkKHZT9kVkOtIkGGeDqS5ZbRHKs4e-lcLCNHfDm7xvbzCPAk1FnOM-_3_i7v8eSom_3dmeVoYnXtvjkzfX/s1600/sakuntala.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="FR">Sakuntala has the sun stuck onto her face. It seems like she can’t stop
smiling ! Born in the south east of Nepal, in the village of Biratnagar,
Sakuntala is one of 6 daugthers. What a gang ! They all meet when it is
any kind of celebration. Sakuntala is the only one not being married. Among the
six, they are two, including her, having a professional life. Active and
hard-working, Sakun’ has grown up in a family where making good food is
essential. It’s in the family kitchen that she became such a great cook !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="FR"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="FR">It was a chance to be taken there. So, eight years ago, Sakun’ came to
Kathmandu in order to find a job. And that’s how she began at
Socialtours : she was at first in charge of maintaining the offices and of
making the lunch for the team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="FR"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="FR">But today, Sakuntala is much more than that : she is the
ambassador of the Nepali cooking style towards foreigners. How come ? In
2011, Socialtours decided to try organizing a cooking class for curious
tourists. The « Cook like a local » experience started being quite
known, and since then, almost each day, foreigners are knocking at the door to
give it a try. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="FR"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="FR">Sakuntala welcomes them all with her usual big smile, and takes them to
the market for sourcing the necessary ingredients. Then back to socialtours
kitchen, she offers technical information and show her pupils how to deal with
a momos, a dal bhat, or an aloo paratha. « <i>My favourite is actually the dal bhat, but well, I like pretty much
everything ! </i>». And then she adds, laughing : « <i>You know, I was slim when I started, but
now, with everything I cook, I gained a bit ! </i>». The part she
prefers in her job ? « <i>Hard to
say. I like being with the people, and of course, I like to cook </i>».<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="FR">When she has some free time, Sakuntala likes to travel, to shop, to
watch movies… and to experiment some new tastes in her food !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371404122708615385.post-7745608692508552092013-09-06T14:17:00.002+05:452013-09-06T14:23:22.016+05:45Vo'ye | the NEWAR feast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVo7uJXmn2Q/UimSQjbiD0I/AAAAAAAAA4I/EBAsy7oZ7oQ/s1600/DSC_4085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVo7uJXmn2Q/UimSQjbiD0I/AAAAAAAAA4I/EBAsy7oZ7oQ/s640/DSC_4085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">During the festival of the God of Rain, Indra, the Kumari Living Goddess makes one of her rare appearances in public, going through special routes in old Kathmandu. It is thought that these routes she takes were the boundary of the city of Kathmandu in the ancient days. We follow this route on a guided tour and end it with a sumptous traditional NEWAR grand feast, blessed by Lord Indra.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;" />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">The Newar Feast</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">There is a close association between the Newar culture and food, and feasts are very common in Newari fa</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">milies. The traditional Vo'ye boasts a wide array of dishes starting with sagun (holy offering), typically consisting of a boiled egg, smoked fish, bars (deep fried lentil patties), hakku chhoila (smoked buffalo meat) and aila (liquor), and ending with dhau (yogurt).<br /><br />With the rise of catering services and the busy lives of the people, parties are catered to and the tradition of the Vo'ye is diminishing. These traditions of feasting bring families closer and remind us of our rich roots, which people need to be aware of and not let diminish.<br /><br />This feast is an attempt to modernise this rich tradition and bring it back into vogue, showcasing what can be achieved by building in ambience, music and a little bit of style.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISIA1NQgB_g/UimSftYQGtI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/kGNaFN6vjn4/s1600/voye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISIA1NQgB_g/UimSftYQGtI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/kGNaFN6vjn4/s640/voye.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br /><br /><b>A Location with History</b><br />The third edition of this yearly feast organised by socialtours and powerful hands will be held at Bhojan Griha, a renovated palace about 150 years old, full of history.<br /><br /><b>Activities</b><br /><br />We will add Newar dance performances & classes along with the feast, to make it an evening to remember.<br /><br />1500 hrs: Gather at Kathmandu Durbar Square for the guided tour.<br />1700 hrs: Gather at Bhojan Griha for the grand feast.<br /><br /><b>Pricing</b><br /><br />Guided Tour and Feast: Rs. 1999.-<br />Grand Feast only: Rs. 999.-<br />Children below 10 years: Half price<br />Children below 4 years: Free</span><br />
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